Bulk vending machine with sound playback apparatus

ABSTRACT

The machine comprises a base and a merchandise storage member, the base having a removable cash box and an outlet for merchandise. A sound producing mechanism is mounted on the merchandise storage member and is actuated in response to operation of a coin actuated merchandise dispensing apparatus.

United States Patent [191 Bolen, Jr.

[1111 3,822,004 July 2,1974

BULK VENDING MACHINE WITH SOUND PLAYBACK APPARATUS Inventor: Waldo E.Bolen, Jr., Morris, 1]].

Assignee: The Northwestern Corporation,

Morris, 111.

June 11, 1973 369,006

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1931 Schennack ..221/3 4/1962Eppy ..221/265X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,101,989 10/1955 France221/265 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E.Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Prangley, Dithmar, Vogel, Sandler &Stotland [57] ABSTRACT The machine comprises a base and a merchandisestorage member, the base having a removable cash box and an outlet formerchandise. A sound producing mechanism is mounted on the merchandisestorage member and is actuated in response to operation of a coinactuated merchandise dispensing apparatus.

18 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 3. l 3. i '38 I 1 35 "l, I 50 I '1 4/ n33/ "I ll" I PATENTEDJUL 2 I974 SHEET 1 0F 5 PATENTEB-IIBL 2 HM8.822.004

SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENTEDJHL 21am SHEET S @F 5 FIG. 1/

FI6.I2

FIG. I3

BULK VENDING MACHINE WITH SOUND PLAYBACK APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Bulk merchandise vending machines have a housing whichsupports a merchandise storage member. A wheel is situated in the bottomof the storage member and receives items of merchandise stored in thestorage member. A coin actuated mechanism mounted on the housing isoperated to rotate the wheel and cause an item or items of merchandiseto be dispensed to the purchaser by way of a merchandise chute. Such abulk merchandise vending machine is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No.3,604,547, for MerchandiseNending Machine, issued to me Sept. I4, 1971,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It is desirable from a merchandising point of view to incorporate asound producing device or mechanism in a bulk merchandise vendingmachine. There are several devices available, most of which are batteryoperated. One such device is the one disclosed in the US. Pat. No.3,467,393, issued Sept. I6, 1969, to Shigeru Kuwayama for Simple SoundReproducing Device, the disclosure of which is also incorporated hereinby reference. Problems inherent in incorporating sound producing devicesin a bulk vending machine include preventing the device from operatingif the machine does not cycle correctly thereby running down the batteryas well as insuring that the sound producing device operates during themerchandise dispensing cycle and thereafter automatically shuts off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of thepresent invention to provide a bulk merchandise vending machine having asound producing device incorporated therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bulk merchandisevending machine wherein the sound reproducing apparatus is actuated inresponse to operation of the merchandise dispensing apparatus.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro vide a bulkmerchandise vending machine wherein a single control mechanism whichoperates the merchandise dispensing apparatus is also operative toactuate the sound producing apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bulkmerchandise vending machine wherein the merchandise dispensing apparatusand the control mechanism for the sound producing apparatus areoperatively dise to be dispensed from the merchandise storage memberthrough the opening and the outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from the opening, soundproducing apparatus for producing a predetermined sound, and controlmechanism for the sound producing apparatus for actuating the soundproducing apparatus in response to movement of the merchandisedispensing apparatus between the merchandise retaining position thereofand the merchandise dispensing position thereof, thereby to producesound for a predetermined time.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel steps andcertain features of construction, and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the invention, there are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspectionof which, when considered in connection with the following description,the invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, andmany of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a bulk merchandise vending machineincorporating therein the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism platepivoted outwardly to expose the interior of the base that supports themerchandise storage member;

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevational view of the merchandise storage memberillustrated in FIG. 1 as seen along lines 3-3 thereof and particularlyshowing the mechanism for mounting the sound producing device thereon;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section of the controlmechanism for the sound producing device illustrated inFIG. 3'as seenalong lines 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom of the merchandise storage memberillustrated in FIG. 1 as seen along lines 5--5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in section of the merchandise wheel rotatably mountedin the bottom of the merchandise storage chamber illustrated in FIG. 5taken along lines 6-6 thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in section of the control mechanism for thesound producing device mounted on the storage chamber illustrated inFIG. 5 taken along lines 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevationalview of the sprocket mounted on themechanism plate and the merchandise wheel particularly showing thegeared relationship therebetween;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the merchandise wheel, the controlmechanism therefor and the control mechanism for the sound producingapparatus illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view like that in FIG. 9 showing therelationship of the parts midway through a cycle;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the mechanism plate particularlyshowing the coin receiving apparatus;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view illustrating the coin wheel mounted onthe mechanism plate in position to receive a coin; and

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of the coin wheel shown in FIG. 12 withthe coin in position to drop into the coin chute.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings, andmore particularly to FIGS. 1 to and 11 to 13 thereof, there isillustrated a bulk merchandise vending machine which incorporates thefeatures of the present invention; The vending machine 20 includes abase which has two opposed side walls 31 inconnected by a rear wall (notshown), each of the side walls having inturned flanges 33 which extendthe vertical length of the side wall. The side walls 31, the back walland the inturned flanges 33 may be made from a single piece of sheetmetal. Also provided, if a front wall 35 fixedly mounted to the inturnedflanges 33 as by rivets 36, the front wall being provided with anenlarged rectangular-shaped aperture 37. A plurality of small apertures38 are disposed to the left of the large central aperture 37 as viewedin FIG. 1, the small apertures facilitating the passage of sound throughthe front wall 35. A removable door 40 is positioned in front of a cashbox (not shown) and below the front plate 35 and rests on the bottomwall (not shown) of the base 30, the door being provided with a key lock41. Intermediate the door 40 and the right-hand wall 31 of the machine20 shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a lid which is pivotable to exposea merchandise chute (not shown) through which merchandise is dischargedfrom the machine 20.

A coin actuated mechanism includes a plate pivotably mounted on thefront wall 35 and carries a fastener 51 thereon which holds a swingablefinger that serves to lock the mechanism plate in place. A boss 52protrudes from the outer surface of the mechanism plate 50 and isprovided with a central aperture therethrough in which is journaled ashaft 53. To the outer end of the shaft 53 an actuating handle isaffixed and to the inner end of the shaft is affixed a sprocket 55having 10 teeth 56 equiangularly spaced therearound. A coin-receivingslot 58 is disposed in the mechanism plate 50 with a coin strip 59extending inwardly therefrom, the strip being inclined so that a coindropped into the slot 58 rolls down the strip 59 toward a slug rejectormechanism 90. As seen particularly in FIGS. 11 to 13, a coin wheel 60 ismounted on the shaft 53 and has a coin sprocket 62 therein which uponrotation of the coin wheel 60 will transport a coin to the coin chute 61in communication with the cash box 40. It is seen, therefore, that acoin deposited in the coin slot 58, if of the proper denomination, willbe transported to the cash box. A pawl 65 is slidably positioned in arecess in the plate 50 and is urged by a spring toward the coin wheel60. Since the coin wheel 60 is provided with a plurality of grooves andcamming surfaces cut in the periphery thereof, the pawl 65 preventsrotation of the coin wheel in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.12, or in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

To accommodate dispensing of merchandise only when a coin (or coins) ofthe proper denomination is inserted into the coin operated mechanism,the mechanism further includes a latching mechanism is mounted on theplate 50 and includes an arcuate bearing surface 71 with a pawl 75pivotably mounted therein. The function and operation of the latchingmechanism 70 is more completely set forth in my previously mentionedU.S. Pat. No. 3,604,547. Additionally, a cover plate is provided and aspring urges the pawl 75 to rotate clockwise and out of the compartment71, all as set forth in my previously mentioned patent, whereby rotationof the coin wheel 60 is prevented if no coin or a coin of incorrectdenomination is deposited in the coin slot 58. Finally, a slug rejectorhaving a slug chute 91 associated therewith completed the coin operatedmechanism mounted on the plate 50.

The bulk merchandise vending machine 20 further includes a merchandisestorage member having 0pposed side walls 101 interconnected by a backwall 102 and a front wall 103, the front wall 103 having a rectangularlyshaped window 104 centrally disposed thereof. A central circular bottomwall 105 is provided with an enlarged circular aperture or opening 106on one side thereof of a size sufficient to accommodate the passage ofmerchandise therethrough. The circular opening 106 is positioned behindthe merchandise chute and lid 45 therefor and is in communicationtherewith. The bottom wall 105 further includes a rectangular aperture107 parallel with the front wall 103 and another rectangular aperture108 angularly positioned in the bottom wall as shown in FIG. 5. Finally,the bottom wall 105 has a cylindrical boss 109 protruding from theunderside thereof in which is journaled a shaft 110 extending verticallyupwards through the merchandise storage member 100. A removable topsealably fits over the merchandise storage member 100 and has a key lock116 thereon which cooperates with the shaft 110 thereby securely to lockthe top onto the merchandise storage member.

The circular bottom wall 105 is interconnected to the side walls 101,the back wall 102 and the front wall 103 by means of a cylindrical wall121 extending upwardly from the bottom wall to diverging walls 122 andto diverging front wall 123. The diverging walls 122 and 123 serve tointerconnect the cylindrical wall l2I with a mounting flange 126 (seeFIG. 5) which is square in horizontal cross section and supports theside walls, the rear wall and the front wall. Finally, a seating flange(see FIG. 3) extends from the diverging side walls 122 and the divergingfront wall 123 to provide seating structure for the merchandise storagemember 100.

The merchandise dispensing wheel 130 includes a plurality of spacedapart teeth 131 on the rim thereof, there being 60 teeth equally spacedapart and defining slots 132 alternating with the teeth. The wheel 130has six pockets or apertures 133 formed therein, each of the pocketshaving a peripheral wall 134 shaped to provide a passageway sufficientlylarge to accommodate the passage of merchandise therethrough. The wheel120 has a center bore 135 with a bearing 136 positioned therein which isjournaled for rotation about the shaft 110.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, there is shown a soundproducing mechanism 140 mounted s to the bottom wall 105 of themerchandise storage member 100 and disposed in use within the base 30.More particularly, a holder 145 includes a plate 146 mounted to thebottom wall 105 as by rivets 147, the plate having downwardly dependingarms 148 and 149 at each end thereof. The arm 148 is provided with ahorizontally disposed and outwardly extending flange 151 to which ispivotally mounted a latch 152 by a fastener 153. A slot 154 is providedin the end of the latch 152 away from the pivot point thereof, an offsetportion 155 being disposed between the slot and the pivot point, for apurpose hereinafter set forth. Finally, the plate 146 of the holder 145has two spaced apart mounting tabs 156 and a downwardly, dependingmounting flange 157.

A sound box 160 with a battery 161 therefor has an open-close latch 162and is held against the plate 146 by the latch 152, the offset 155fitting around the openclose latch 162 of the sound box. The sound box160 is of the type set forth in the previously mentioned Kuwayama US.Pat. No. 3,467,393, wherein the sound box and particularly the battery161 is energized by depressing an actuator 165 which is spring biased tothe up position thereof. A record (not shown) is contacted by a pick-up(not shown) subsequent to the actuator 165 returning to its fullyextended position. After the record has played for a predetermined time,the sound box 160 is automatically de-energized and no further drain onthe battery 161 occurs until the actuator 165 is again depressed. It issee, therefore, that sound is not emitted until after the actuator 165returns to the up position automatically to de-energize the battery 161after the recording is finished.

Mounted between the tabs 156 is control mechanism 170 having an arm witha contact portion 171 and a camming portion 172, the camming portionbeing bent at an obtuse angle with respect to the contact portion.Finally, a sprocket 175 having ten teeth 176 equiangularly spaced aroundthe periphery thereof is mounted on a shaft 177 journalled for rotationin the mounting flange 157, the sprocket 175 having a pin 178 extendinginwardly thereof toward the flange 157. The sprocket 175 is arranged sothat the teeth 176 thereof mesh with the teeth 131 of the merchandisedispensing wheel 130, and similarly, the teeth 56 of the sprocket 55also mesh with the teeth 131 of the merchandise dispensing wheel 130when the mechanism plate 50 is closed and the fastener 51 securely locksthe plate in place.

The operation of the bulk merchandise vending machine 20 willhereinafter be set forth. The bulk merchandise vending machine 20 is incondition for operation when the door 40 is locked in place via the lock41, the coin operated mechanism on the plate 50 is locked in place viathe fastener 51, and the top 115 is firmly locked on the shaft 110 viathe lock 116 and is seated with the merchandise storage member 100.Merchandise is visible through the window 104 and the handle 54 of thecoin operated mechanism is in the position shown in FIG. 1, with themechanism dispensing wheel 130 in the position shown in FIG. 5. The coinwheel 60 is in the position shown in FIG.' 12 ready to receive a coin ofthe proper denomination in the pocket 62. Upon insertion of a coin ofthe proper denomination in the pocket 62, the coin wheel 60 may beturned by rotation of the handle 54 in a clockwise direction. As pre-,viously set forth herein. the handle 54 is operatively connected to thesprocket 55 which has teeth 56 thereon with the tooth 56a beingpositioned as shown in FIG. 9 when the handle 54 is in the positionshown in FIG. 1.

Since there are ten teeth 56 on the sprocket 55 an incremental turn ofthe sprocket rotates the sprocket through an arc of 36, the same beingtrue for the sprocket 175. Since the merchandise wheel 130 has 60 teeththereon intermeshing with the teeth 56 on the sprocket 55 and the teeth176 on the sprocket 175, the merchandise wheel rotates through an arc of6 for each incremental turning of the sprocket 55. As there are sixpockets 133 in the merchandise wheel 130, rotation of the wheel throughan arc of 60 will position a pocket in registry with the aperture 106 inthe bottom wall 105 of the merchandise storage member 100, therebyproviding communication between the pocket 133 so positioned and themerchandise chute leading to the lid 45 which opens at the front of themachine adjacent the coin box 40. Since each incremental turn of thehandle 54 advances the sprockets 55 and 175 through an arc of 36 and themerchandise wheel 130 through an arc of 6, it is clear that a complete360 revolution of the handle 54 and thereby the sprockets and 175 willadvance the merchandise wheel 130 through an arc of thereby to positiona successive one of the pockets 133 in registry with the aperture 106.The merchandise dispensing wheel 130 is operable between two positions,one being the merchandise retaining position thereof wherein the wheelis positioned to retain the merchandise in the storage member and theother being the merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein a pocket133 carrying merchandise is aligned with the aperture 106 therebypermitting merchandise to pass through the chute and the lid 45 to thepurchaser.

As the handle 54 is rotated from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5through an arc of 180, the sprockets 55 and 17S andthe merchandise wheeladvance therewith from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the positionshown in FIG. 10 wherein the teeth 56b and l76b assume the position ofteeth 56a and 176a, respec tively. The coin drops into the coin chute 16between the fourth and fifth increment of rotation of the handle 54 thatis between 144 and 180 of rotation. Subsequently, during the fifth andsixth increment of rotation, the pin 178 on the sprocket 175 contactsthe camming portion 172 of the control mechanism 170 whereby pivotingthe arm and initiating contact between the contact portion l7l of thearm and the actuator 165 of the sound box 160. It is during the fifthand sixth increment or between 180 and 216 of rotation that the soundbox is energized or more particularly the battery 16] is energized bymovement of the actuator from the spring biased position shown in FIG. 9to a depressed position, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 10. Subsequentrotation past the sixth increment or after 216 results in activation ofthe sound producing mechanism 140 to produce a predetermined sound for apredetermined length of time.

After the predetermined length of time has lapsed, the sound producingmechanism 140 de-energizes automatically. Continued rotation of thehandle 54 beyond the sixth increment to the tenth increment positionsthe merchandise-containing pocket 133 in registry with the aperture 106to permit merchandise pres ent in the pocket 133 to be dispensed throughthe aperture 106 and the chute to the lid 45. Merchandise naturallygravitates to the pockets 133 so that as long as merchandise is presentin the storage member 100, the pockets 133 will be filled allowing fordispensing of the merchandise as hereinbefore set forth. Aftermerchandise has been dispensed, the machine 20 is in condition to becycled again, all of the mechanisms being again in the position shown inFIGS. 1, and 9. It is seen that merchandise is not dispensed until afterthe sound producing mechanism 140 is in condition automtically tode-energize after producing sound for a predetermined time, therebyproviding an incentive to the user not to abandon the machine inmid-cycle and allow the battery 161 to wear down.

Means are provided to prevent merchandise present in the storage member100 from falling through the pocket 133 aligned with the aperture 136 sothat only the desired quantum of merchandise will be dispensed percycle. The above-referred to means may be in the form of a plate or aplurality of springs positioned above the merchandise wheel 130 inregistry with the aperture 106 thereby permitting merchandise to bemoved by the wheel 130 yet preventing merchandise not in the pockets 133from being in position to be transmitted through the aperture 106 intothe chute.

An important advantage of the present invention is the particulararrangement of the sprocket 175, the sprocket 55 and the merchandisewheel 130 along with the sound producing mechanism 140 which reduces thechance of battery depletion to a minimum. In the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the battery 161 is energized between the fifthand sixth increment of the handle 54, and it is only during the timethat the sprocket 175 is in the position shown in FIG. 10 and for oneincrement thereafter that the battery 161 is energized and may bedepleted if the cycle is not continued. Subsequent to 216 of handlerotation, the operation ofthe sound producing mechanism 140 is automaticand will result in a deenergization of the battery 161 after theproduction of sound for a predetermined time. This timing arrangement isparticularly advantageous when it is considered that jamming of the coinwheel 60 due to an improper coin or slug will occur prior toenergization of the battery 161 since a coin of the proper denominationwill complete its cycle and drop into the cash box 40 between the fourthand fifth increment or between 144 and 180 of handle rotation, whereasthe battery 161 is not energized until the fifth or sixth incrementshave been reached or between 180 and 216 of handle rotation. Thisfeature drastically reduces the need for continuing maintenance orrepair of the bulk vending machine of the present invention and providesa more reliable machine.

Another important feature of the present invention relating to that setforth above is that the merchandise is dispensed from the machine 20subsequent to 216 of rotation and more nearly to 360 of rotating of thehandle 54 thereby providing incentive to the user not to abandon themachine between 180 and 216 of handle rotation when the battery 16] isenergized. It is only during the above increment of handle rotation thatthe battery 16] is in the energized position and will not beautomatically deenergized after a predetermined sound recording. It is,therefore, important to minimize the chance of a user leaving themachine in this intermediate or mid-cycle position and to provide anincentive to complete the cycle to obtain the merchandise. The ma chine20 of the present invention is constructed and arranged so that the coindrops into the coin box prior to energization of the battery 161 and themerchandise is dispensed subsequent to the automatic cycle has beenactivated for de-energizing the battery.

It is belived that the invention, its mode of construction and assembly,and many of its advantages should be readily understood from theforegoing without further description, and it should also be manifestthat, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details are,nevertheless, capable of wide variation within the purview of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining amerchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least oneopening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandisedispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said oneopening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensingposition of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from saidhousing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening notcommunicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housingto said outlet, means for retaining a sound producing apparatus whichproduces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operatively engaged bysaid toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheelduring rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means foroperating the sound producing apparatus to produce the predeterminedsound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to a predetermined positionbetween said merchandise retaining position and said merchandisedispensing position, and a manually operated coinactuated secondsprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted forrotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retainingposition to said merchandise dispensing position upon receipt of a coinof a predetermined denomination.

2. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having amerchandise dispensing outlet, a merchandise storage member havingbottom wall structure seatable on said base, said bottom wall structurehaving an opening therein communicating with said merchandise dispensingoutlet, a toothed wheel having at least one pocket with a holetherethrough and being disposed on said bottom wall structure forrotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandiseretaining position, said one pocket communicating with said opening inthe merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandiseto be dispensed from said intermediate storage member through saidpocket and said opening to said outlet, said one pocket notcommunicating with said opening in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from saidmerchandise storage member to said outlet, means on the underside ofsaid bottom wall structure for retaining a sound producing apparatuswhich produces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operativelyengaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by saidtoothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket includingmeans for operating the sound producing apparatus to produce thepredetermined sound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to apredetermined position between said merchandise retaining position andsaid merchandise dispensing position, and a manually operatedcoin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheeland being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from saidmerchandise retaining position to said merchandise dispensing positionupon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

3. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining amerchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least oneopening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandisedispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said oneopening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensingposition of said wheelto permit merchandise to be dispensed from saidhousing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening notcommunicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housingto said outlet, a battery operated sound producing apparatus having anactuator movable between first and second positions, said soundproducing apparatus being energized when said actuator is moved fromsaid first position to said second position and said second producingapparatus producing the predetermined sound when the actuator is thenreturned to said first position, a first sprocket operable engaged bysaid toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheelduring rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for movingthe actuator from said first position to said second position andthereafter removing said actuator back to said first position to causethe sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound, saidactuator moving means being located to cause said actuator to move fromsaid first position to said second position and back to said firstposition when said toothed wheel is at a predetermined position betweensaid merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensingposition, manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operativelyengaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotatesaid toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to saidintermediate dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of apredetermined denomination.

4. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid actuator is spring biased to the first position thereof.

5. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid sound producing apparatus is automatically de-energized after thepredetermined sound has been produced.

6. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having amerchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage memberhaving an opening from the interior thereof and having bottom wallstructure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in saidmerchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening andhaving a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatablebetween a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise inone of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening and incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, soundproducing apparatus for producing a predetermined sound and having'anactuating member a first sprocket mounted for engagement with saidtoothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuating member, anda manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connectedto said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of apredetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket ismanually rotated, thereby sequentially to release a coin into areceptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuating member toinitiate sound production from said sound producing apparatus duringrotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retainingposition thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.

7. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid toothed wheel has six pockets extending therethrough.

8. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid toothed wheel has 60 teeth equiangularly spaced around theperiphery thereof.

9. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid first sprocket has 10 teeth equiangularly positioned around theperiphery thereof.

10. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid first sprocket has a pin mounted thereon for engagement with saidsound producing apparatus actuating member.

11. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsaid second sprocket has l0equiangularly spaced around the peripherythereof.

12. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein acoin of predetermined denomination is released into said receptacleduring movement of said second sprocket through an arc of between about144 and during rotation of said second sprocket through 360.

13. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, whereinsound is produced from said sound producing apparatus during rotation ofsaid second sprocket through an arc of between about 216 and 360 duringrotation of said second sprocket through 360.

14. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having amerchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage memberhaving an opening from the interior thereof and having a bottom wallstructure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in saidmerchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening andhaving a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatablebetween a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise inone of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet and to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, abattery operated sound producing apparatus positioned in use in saidhousing for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuator forenergizing said sound producing apparatus, a' first sprocket mounted forengagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate saidactuator, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocketoperativelyconnected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when acoin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said secondsprocket is manually rotated thereby sequentially to release the coininto a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuator toenergize said battery and thereafter to release said actuating member toinitiate the production of sound from said sound producing apparatus fora predetermined time during rotation of said toothed wheel between themerchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensingposition thereof.

15. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 14, whereinsaid battery operated sound producing apparatus automatically isde-energized subsequent to the production of the predetermined soundthereby.

16. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having amerchandise dispensing outlet therein,

a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereofand having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, merchandisedispensing apparatus for positioning merchandise stored in saidmerchandise storage member in said opening, said merchandise dispensingapparatus being movable between a merchandise dispensing positionthereof wherein merchandise is positioned in said opening incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to per mitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening,battery operated sound producing apparatus for producing a sound for apredetermined time and including an actuator movable between a firstposition wherein said battery is energized without production of soundand a second position wherein sound is produced for a predetermined timefollowed by automatic deenergization of said battery, control mechanismfor operating said actuator between the first and the second positionsthereof, a manually operated coin actuated mechanism operativelyconnected to said control mechanism and to said merchandise dispensingapparatus for operating said control mechanism and said dispensingmerchandise from said merchandise storage member after a coin of apredetermined denomination is deposited therein and said coin actuatedmechanism is manually operated sequentially to release the coin into areceptacle therefor and thereafter to operate said control mechanism andmove said actuator to the first position thereof and thereafter to movesaid actuator to the second position thereof and thereafter to dispensemerchandise when said actuator is in the second position thereof withsaid battery being de-energized after sound is produced for apredetermined length of time.

17. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 16, whereinsaid control mechanism is operatively connected to said merchandisedispensing apparatus movement of which operates said actuator betweenthe first position thereof and the second position thereof.

18. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 16, whereinsaid merchandising dispensing apparatus includes a geared wheel and saidcontrol mechanism includes a sprocket and said coin actuated mechanismincludes a sprocket, said geared wheel and said sprockets beingintermeshed so that operation of said coin actuated mechanism byrotation thereof rotates said merchandise dispensing apparatus betweenthe merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandisedispensing position thereof and operates said actuator between the firstposition thereof and the second position thereof.

Patent No.

Column Column Column Column Column and that Column UNITED STATES PATENTQFFICE ('IEIHIFICAIE ()F CORRECTION 3,822 ,004 Dated July 2 1974Inventor(s) Weldo E. Bolen, Jr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

line l8 "inconnected" should be --interconnected--; '63, "120" should be---130--;

, line line line see" should be --seen--;

"16" should be -61--.;

9 line line "second" second occurrence should be --sound--;

47, change "intermediate" to -merchandise---; and

10, line 33, after "10'' insert --teeth--.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner ofPatents DRM PO-IOEO (10-63) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w us GOVERNMENT rnm'rmsOFFICE nu 0-306-334,

1. A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining amerchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least oneopening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandisedispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said oneopening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensingposition of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from saidhousing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening notcommunicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housingto said outlet, means for retaining a sound producing apparatus whichproduces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operatively engaged bysaid toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheelduring rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means foroperating the sound producing apparatus to produce the predeterminedsound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to a predetermined positionbetween said merchandise retaining position and said merchandisedispensing position, and a manually operated coin-actuated secondsprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted forrotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retainingposition to said merchandise dispensing position upon receipt of a coinof a predetermined denomination.
 2. A bulk merchandise vending machinecomprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet, a merchandisestorage member having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, saidbottom wall structure having an opening therein communicating with saidmerchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least onepocket with a hole therethrough and being disposed on said bottom wallstructure for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to amerchandise retaining position, said one pocket communicating with saidopening in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said intermediate storage memberthrough said pocket and said opening to said outlet, said one pocket notcommunicating with said opening in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from saidmerchandise storage member to said outlet, means on the underside ofsaid bottom wall structure for retaining a sound producing apparatuswhich produces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operativelyengaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by saidtoothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket includingmeans for operating the sound producing apparatus to produce thepredetermined sound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to apredetermined position betweeN said merchandise retaining position andsaid merchandise dispensing position, and a manually operatedcoin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheeland being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from saidmerchandise retaining position to said merchandise dispensing positionupon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.
 3. A bulkmerchandise vending machine comprising means defining a merchandisedispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one openingtherethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandisedispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said oneopening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensingposition of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from saidhousing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening notcommunicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position ofsaid wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housingto said outlet, a battery operated sound producing apparatus having anactuator movable between first and second positions, said soundproducing apparatus being energized when said actuator is moved fromsaid first position to said second position and said second producingapparatus producing the predetermined sound when the actuator is thenreturned to said first position, a first sprocket operable engaged bysaid toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheelduring rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for movingthe actuator from said first position to said second position andthereafter removing said actuator back to said first position to causethe sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound, saidactuator moving means being located to cause said actuator to move fromsaid first position to said second position and back to said firstposition when said toothed wheel is at a predetermined position betweensaid merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensingposition, manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operativelyengaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotatesaid toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to saidintermediate dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of apredetermined denomination.
 4. The bulk merchandise vending machine setforth in claim 3, wherein said actuator is spring biased to the firstposition thereof.
 5. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth inclaim 3, wherein said sound producing apparatus is automaticallyde-energized after the predetermined sound has been produced.
 6. A bulkmerchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandisedispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having anopening from the interior thereof and having bottom wall structureseatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in said merchandisestorage member for rotation with respect to said opening and having aplurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatable between amerchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise in one ofsaid pockets is positioned in registry with said opening and incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, soundproducing apparatus for producing a predetermined sound and having anactuating member a first sprocket mounted for engagement with saidtoothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuating member, anda manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connectedto said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of apredetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket ismanually rotated, thereby sequentially to release a coin into areceptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuating member toinitiate sound productioN from said sound producing apparatus duringrotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retainingposition thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.
 7. Thebulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein saidtoothed wheel has six pockets extending therethrough.
 8. The bulkmerchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said toothedwheel has 60 teeth equiangularly spaced around the periphery thereof. 9.The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein saidfirst sprocket has 10 teeth equiangularly positioned around theperiphery thereof.
 10. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth inclaim 6, wherein said first sprocket has a pin mounted thereon forengagement with said sound producing apparatus actuating member.
 11. Thebulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein saidsecond sprocket has 10 equiangularly spaced around the peripherythereof.
 12. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6,wherein a coin of predetermined denomination is released into saidreceptacle during movement of said second sprocket through an arc ofbetween about 144* and 180* during rotation of said second sprocketthrough 360*.
 13. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth inclaim 6, wherein sound is produced from said sound producing apparatusduring rotation of said second sprocket through an arc of between about216* and 360* during rotation of said second sprocket through 360*. 14.A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having amerchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage memberhaving an opening from the interior thereof and having a bottom wallstructure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in saidmerchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening andhaving a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatablebetween a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise inone of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet and to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, abattery operated sound producing apparatus positioned in use in saidhousing for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuator forenergizing said sound producing apparatus, a first sprocket mounted forengagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate saidactuator, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocketoperatively connected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when acoin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said secondsprocket is manually rotated thereby sequentially to release the coininto a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuator toenergize said battery and thereafter to release said actuating member toinitiate the production of sound from said sound producing apparatus fora predetermined time during rotation of said toothed wheel between themerchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensingposition thereof.
 15. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth inclaim 14, wherein said battery operated sound producing apparatusautomatically is de-energized subsequent to the production of thepredetermined sound thereby.
 16. A bulk merchandise vending machinecomprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, amerchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereofand having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, merchandisedispensing apparatus for positioning merchandise stored in saidmerchandise storage member in said opening, said merchandise dispensingapparatus being movable between a merchandise dispensing positionthereof wherein merchandise is posiTioned in said opening incommunication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permitmerchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member throughsaid opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining positionthereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening,battery operated sound producing apparatus for producing a sound for apredetermined time and including an actuator movable between a firstposition wherein said battery is energized without production of soundand a second position wherein sound is produced for a predetermined timefollowed by automatic de-energization of said battery, control mechanismfor operating said actuator between the first and the second positionsthereof, a manually operated coin actuated mechanism operativelyconnected to said control mechanism and to said merchandise dispensingapparatus for operating said control mechanism and said dispensingmerchandise from said merchandise storage member after a coin of apredetermined denomination is deposited therein and said coin actuatedmechanism is manually operated sequentially to release the coin into areceptacle therefor and thereafter to operate said control mechanism andmove said actuator to the first position thereof and thereafter to movesaid actuator to the second position thereof and thereafter to dispensemerchandise when said actuator is in the second position thereof withsaid battery being de-energized after sound is produced for apredetermined length of time.
 17. The bulk merchandise vending machineset forth in claim 16, wherein said control mechanism is operativelyconnected to said merchandise dispensing apparatus movement of whichoperates said actuator between the first position thereof and the secondposition thereof.
 18. The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth inclaim 16, wherein said merchandising dispensing apparatus includes ageared wheel and said control mechanism includes a sprocket and saidcoin actuated mechanism includes a sprocket, said geared wheel and saidsprockets being intermeshed so that operation of said coin actuatedmechanism by rotation thereof rotates said merchandise dispensingapparatus between the merchandise retaining position thereof and themerchandise dispensing position thereof and operates said actuatorbetween the first position thereof and the second position thereof.